NPR 2009-04-16

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

Iran's president says he'll soon present a plan to end the international standoff with the West over his country's nuclear program. He also reiterated 1 the program will continue. Teri Schultz has more from Brussels.

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he'll be presenting a package of proposals to help facilitate dialogue with the international community over his nuclear pursuits. But in the same speech, Ahmadinejad says that US and other nuclear power should give up their own programs and also withdraw their military forces from around the world. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the US, Britain, China, France and Russia plus Germany last week asked European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to set up a meeting with Tehran to discuss the nuclear dispute. A spokeswoman for Solana says Ahmadinejad’s announcement is consistent with what Iran's nuclear negotiator previewed in a phone call with him earlier this week and that Solana is waiting for a formal response from the Iranian government. For NPR News, I'm Teri Schultz in Brussels.

In response to Ahmadinejad’s comment, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US welcomes dialogue with Iran over its nuclear program. She also said that US has not dropped its demand that Tehran stop enriching uranium. Clinton also announced new steps to combat piracy 2 off the coast of Somalia. She says the US is sending an envoy 3 to a Somali donors 4 conference next week to coordinate 5 an international response and look for ways to disband pirate bases in Somalia. Clinton says officials are also looking to freeze pirate assets.

Meanwhile, word came that Somali pirates attacked another US freighter Tuesday but failed to hijack 6 it. NPR's Gwen Tompkins has that story.

The Liberty Sun cargo 7 ship was off the coast of Somalia yesterday when the pirates attacked. The vessel 8 sustained bulkhead damage and there was reportedly a small fire on board. But still, the Liberty Sun managed to get away. The ship is now headed for the original destination at the Port Mombasa on the Kenyan coast. Pirates have vowed 9 to target US ships specifically following Sunday's US Navy rescue of the Maersk Alabama's captain, Richard Philips. Since Sunday, Somali pirates have taken four other ships, including the MV Sea Horse which was en route to Mumbai to pick up food relief for Somalia. Gwen Tompkins, NPR News, Mombasa.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced former federal prosecutor 10 Ellen Bursin will serve as the nation's new so-called Drug Czar.

We are going to make sure that those who come and seek to violate our laws by entering our country illegally or bringing contraband 11 into our country or those who seek going south to carry illegal guns and cash south that they are apprehended 12 and prosecuted 13.

President Obama heads to Mexico tomorrow.

On Wall Street today, the Dow ended up 109 points to close at 8,029; the NASDAQ picked up one point to close at 1,626.

This is NPR News.

For the first time in more than half a century, consumers are paying less on average for goods and services than they were a year ago. The Labor 14 Department reports the consumer price index fell by four tenths of a percent over the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Treasury 15 Department says lending by many of the nation's biggest banks declined in February despite a massive government infusion 16.

In case you need to be reminded, today is the deadline to file federal income tax returns as NPR's Trina Williams reports the Internal Revenue Services is urging last minute filers not to panic.

The IRS is expecting to receive more than 20 million tax filings this week. Advice for procrastinators and all those concern that they can't afford to pay if they owe  the government, meet today's deadline anyway. If filing a return is out of the question then an extension should be filed by today. IRS commissioner 17 Doug Shulman: “The most important thing for them to know is they should send in their return. If they don't send the return, interest and penalties will stack up.” With record jobless numbers and the economy in a recession, some leniency 18 is being allowed for on time filers. The agency is offering to reduce late penalties, negotiating new payment plans and to postpone 19 asset's seizures 20 for delinquent 21 tax payers who make good faith efforts to settle their debts. Trina Williams, NPR News, Washington.

The Thai government has revoked 22 the passport of deposed 23 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying he had instigated 24 a political unrest. The move comes a day after Thaksin’s supporters were forced to end their demonstrations 25 in Bangkok. Thaksin went into exile last year after being convicted on corruption 26 charges.